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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#242951: May 21st 2018 at 3:11:55 AM

So I recently mailed my early ballot for the California June 5th primaries. Voted a straight Democratic ticket with an emphasis on picking candidates with political experience.

Disgusted, but not surprised
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#242952: May 21st 2018 at 5:14:22 AM

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/21/don-blankenship-third-party-constitution-party-600779

Haha.

They may lose the state because of Blankenship. I hope he gets enough votes to split the party.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#242953: May 21st 2018 at 5:19:09 AM

I couldn't help but notice Politico's description of him

"West Virginia coal baron and former prisoner Don Blankenship"

Man may be a piece of shit of the lowest order, but that's the kind of thing that immediately makes me unable to take an article seriously because of how it stinks of obvious bias.

Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#242954: May 21st 2018 at 5:27:27 AM

Definitely a sign of bias, yeah. Bad Politico.

Still, let's hope Blankenship manages to weasel into the election on a write-in. The Republicans haven't learned that you never split the party.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#242955: May 21st 2018 at 5:28:59 AM
Thumped: This post was thumped by moderation to preserve the dignity of the author.
Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#242956: May 21st 2018 at 5:35:46 AM

[up] I'm not saying it's inaccurate, just that it's not something that should be said in a proper news article. I'd feel the same way about an article that called Trump something like "Traitor-in-Chief". Accurate it may be, professional it is not.

At the very least, there's almost certainly more professional wording than "former prisoner", or omitting it entirely since the article does mention his conviction and jail time later.

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#242957: May 21st 2018 at 5:45:31 AM

"Traitor in Cheif" is hyperbole, and wouldnt belong in a proper article. "Former prisoner" is an objectively accurate statement of what he is. Granted, it does make it sound like he may have been a kidnap victim or something, perhaps "convicted crimminal" would have been better.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#242958: May 21st 2018 at 5:47:04 AM

"Ex-con"?

i'm tired, my friend
RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#242959: May 21st 2018 at 5:49:13 AM
Thumped: This post was thumped by moderation to preserve the dignity of the author.
It's been fun.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#242960: May 21st 2018 at 5:52:20 AM

Ex-con would be better, but otherwise...yeah, there is nothing unfair about that descriptor. If he was jailed for something minor like public urination or something, maybe (and depending on the location it might not be so minor).

Disgusted, but not surprised
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#242961: May 21st 2018 at 5:55:20 AM

I'm not denying its accuracy, just its appropriateness

RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#242962: May 21st 2018 at 6:13:49 AM

I'd argue it's entirely appropriate when the conviction was related to killing people through negligent management and he's running for public office.

edited 21st May '18 6:14:08 AM by RedSavant

It's been fun.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#242963: May 21st 2018 at 6:17:06 AM

I'd argue is not because Politico is a news outlet and phrasing like that of there solely to evoke a purely emotional response rather than just reporting the details of the story. The conviction and its details are still in the story, mentioned as background.

In a right wing outlet, we'd call that dogwhistling or something.

edited 21st May '18 7:02:39 AM by sgamer82

RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#242964: May 21st 2018 at 6:52:58 AM
Thumped: This post was thumped by moderation to preserve the dignity of the author.
It's been fun.
tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#242965: May 21st 2018 at 7:03:43 AM

AP Breaking: Don Blankenship has decided to run against Senator Joe Manchin as a third-party candidate.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#242966: May 21st 2018 at 7:14:33 AM

^God, I hope they eat each other.

It's been fun.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#242967: May 21st 2018 at 7:38:18 AM

What percentage of the vote did he get in the primary?

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#242968: May 21st 2018 at 7:40:08 AM
Thumped: This post was thumped by moderation to preserve the dignity of the author.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#242969: May 21st 2018 at 7:42:10 AM

[up] ...So do they think this will make them more popular to the electorate come November or are they already giving up on Congress and burning the house down on the way out? Or are they hoping this distracts the Democratic Senators up for re-election from their campaigns?

edited 21st May '18 7:42:50 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#242970: May 21st 2018 at 7:44:39 AM

[up]Wouldn't that just give Democrats another tentpole issue to run on? Health care isn't a distraction, it's like a cornerstone of the entire Democratic party platform.

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#242971: May 21st 2018 at 7:44:45 AM

It's their windmill,they'll keep charging in hopes of killing it but we all know they won't suceed

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#242972: May 21st 2018 at 7:47:13 AM

Really? They can try even MORE budget nonsense?

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#242973: May 21st 2018 at 7:50:52 AM

Either they're confident they can hold on to the Senate despite this or because of it by distracting the Democratic Senators up for re-election, confident that their electorate will eat it up, or just don't care about re-election anymore and are hoping to push it through so they can go for cushy private sector jobs or retire.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#242974: May 21st 2018 at 8:00:33 AM

They get one successful try a year from what I get, last year they tried to use it on healthcare but failed and used it on taxes.

Also I imagine this has been order from on high, Republican donors were threatening to not fund them if healthcare wasn’t destroyed and taxes bought down, it looks like the donor class won’t settle for just one of their demands being met.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#242975: May 21st 2018 at 8:03:22 AM

Well yeah, those donors didn't get to where they are by not being selfish greedy amoral bastards. They are the kind of people who want all the money. They aren't satisfied with the near total control of the economy they already have. They are the kind of people who gorge themselves at a feast and take offense when they notice a pauper with a scrap of bread.

The very beginning of the vid is the relevant bit.

edited 21st May '18 8:05:28 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised

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